Rolls-Royce Specter, the English house makes its debut in electric super-luxury

The debut in 2023 of the brand’s first zero-emission car has been announced: Rolls-Royce Specter, whose road tests will start shortly. The British company also stressed that from 2030 it will produce exclusively electric cars

Rolls Royce will only market electric cars from 2030. This was declared by the CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, during an event in which the company also announces the company’s first fully electric car, which will be released by the end of 2023; there Rolls Royce Spectre. The electric Rolls-Royce thus fulfills the 1900 “prophecy” of the brand’s founders. Indeed, the use of electric motors is not a new concept for Rolls-Royce. Sir Henry Royce was fascinated by electrification and his first company, called FH Royce and Company, created dynamos, electric crane motors and patented the bayonet fitting. And Charles Rolls, who prophesied an electrified future for automobiles, experimented with a first electric-powered car called the Columbia in April 1900.

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Rolls-Royce Specter, soon on the road

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Testing of the Rolls-Royce Specter will start shortly and will cover a total of 2.5 million kilometers (a simulation of 400 years of use). In announcing the electric breakthrough for the brand, Torsten Müller-Ötvös retraced the history of the legendary brand declaring: “Today is the most significant day in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since May 4, 1904. On that date, our founding fathers, Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce, met for the first time and agreed that they would create “the best automobile in the world”. Using the most advanced technology of the time and applying their remarkable engineering minds, these two pioneers elevated the first internal combustion engine cars from noisy, uncomfortable and rudimentary means of transport, setting an entirely new benchmark of distinction. The cars they created introduced the world to a true luxury experience and ensured Rolls-Royce the top position it continues to occupy, undisputed, to this day ”.

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Electric is the fifth essence of luxury

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Speaking of the Rolls-Royce Specter, the CEO said: “Today, 117 years later, I am proud to announce that Rolls-Royce will begin the road test program for a stunning new product that will elevate the global revolution of all-electric cars and create the first – and best – super-luxury product of its kind. This is not a prototype. It is a real car, it will be tested and our customers will take the first deliveries of the car in the fourth quarter of 2023. The electric drive is unique and perfectly suited to Rolls-Royce, more than any other car brand. It is quiet, refined and creates torque almost instantly, generating enormous power. This is what we at Rolls-Royce call waftability”.

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a long path

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At Rolls-Royce they have been experimenting with the electric powertrain for some time. The house in 2011 revealed the 102EX, a fully electric Phantom, followed in 2016 by the 103EX, an electric concept that represented the brand’s vision. The Specter will be engineered on the scalable aluminum spaceframe platform, which debuted in 2017 with the Phantom. The platform was created to fit different models with internal combustion engines, such as the Cullinan and the Ghost, but also for models with completely different powertrains, such as battery cars. The transition to electric mobility for a home like Rolls-Royce is perfectly natural as large, opulent sedans can carry large batteries without too much heartache. Furthermore, the electric motor guarantees zero noise, with the direct consequence of an absolutely unattainable comfort for the combustion counterparts.

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That’s why it’s called Specter

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Regarding the choice of name, the CEO explained: “This Rolls-Royce is the fulfillment of a prophecy and represents a promise kept as we embark on a unique undertaking. It is the beginning of a new legacy for our brand. In this spirit, we have opted for a completely new name for the car. A name that is as powerful and evocative as the ones we have already used (Phantom, Ghost and Wraith). It is a name that fits perfectly into the ethereal and otherworldly environment where our products are placed. Specter is a name bestowed on otherworldly beings who are synonymous with great power and appearance; creatures from an alternate realm who make their presence felt through a fleeting manifestation. A specter forces the world to stop. Dominate the space it occupies. Then, as quickly as it appears, it dissipates, leaving a trail of euphoria, energy and intrigue ”.

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